Is the heat in Texas coming from Mexico? Here’s why it’s so darn hot in Fort Worth

Dalia Faheid
·2 min read
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With temperatures topping 100 degrees Tuesday for the first time this year, an excessive heat warning is in effect for North Texas until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Medstar had treated seven patients for heat-related illnesses as of 3 p.m. Monday. Meanwhile, ERCOT is asking consumers to reduce electricity use Tuesday after Texas used 79,304 MW of electricity on Monday, near the all-time record of 80,148 MW in one day.

The source of the stifling heat is a large high pressure heat dome aloft that is centered over central Mexico, Victor Murphy, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said.

South Texas is in the grips of this hot and dry air mass, while its northern reach is the I-20 corridor. Some of the daily heat records are forecast to fall on Tuesday, with all of them south of I-20.

The table shows some of the daily heat records that are forecast to fall Tuesday. NWS Fort Worth
The table shows some of the daily heat records that are forecast to fall Tuesday. NWS Fort Worth

On Monday, San Angelo reached 111 degrees, which ties the all-time hottest temperature for any month, and breaks a new record for the month of June. The previous record for June was 110 degrees.

The upper level ridge heat dome has produced temperatures of 110 degrees and over across Mexico and Texas, with heat indices of 120 degrees and over.

“North Texans need to be very aware of the heat index, which factors in the humidity to the air temperatures, and which creates a ‘feel like’ temperature,” Murphy said.

On Monday at 6 p.m. in Dallas-Fort Worth, the dew point temperature was 79 degrees, only one degree shy of the all-time record high dew point of 80 degrees. Combined with the observed temperature of 97 degrees, this resulted in a heat index of 116 degrees.

That’s the second highest heat index value ever recorded in DFW, dating back to 1956. Only the 117 degrees recorded on June 27, 1980 was higher. The high dewpoint temperature and the humidity is very uncommon, according to Murphy.

While the excessive heat warning is still in effect, NWS Fort Worth recommends take the following precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses:

  • Drink plenty of water

  • Avoid extended time outdoors

  • Limit time outside to the cooler part of the day

  • Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness

  • Wear light-colored clothing

  • Take frequent breaks in the shade

  • Call 911 if you suspect heat stroke